This paper aims to show the central role of economy in O cortiço [The Slum], by Aluisio Azevedo. In this naturalistic novel, the characters are usually presented in accordance with the role they play in the economic life. It is even possible to identify a kind of "accounting" in the preparation and conclusion of several scenes. The vibrating economic life in the space constructed by João Romão and Bertoleza expresses the complex urban life of Rio de Janeiro during the dramatic transition from slavery to a free labor system, and the rise of Brazilian capitalism. These features can perhaps explain the popularity of this book.
Literature; Economy; Naturalism; 19th century